Coincidentally, this “tents-only”
weekend came right in the middle of the Jewish "Feast of Tabernacles" which is introduced
in the Old Testament. This feast was described by God in Leviticus 23 as a time
when all the people were to live outdoors in “tabernacles” or temporary shelters.
This feast was to be a time of rejoicing, reflecting on the faithfulness of
God, and studying the scriptures. And let me tell you, that’s just what this
father-son group did!
Over the course of their weekend at South Mountain, they spent equal amounts of time studying the Bible,
encouraging and challenging each other on our ropes course, and just have a
good time together. The bonding experience that took place during that weekend
will stick with those boys and their fathers for a long time to come.
As I gave thought to the
Feast of Tabernacles once again, it occurred to me that this is essentially
what camp ministry is all about. We provide an opportunity for people to get
away from their daily routine, experience God’s creation first-hand, and draw
closer to Him as a result. Sometimes it takes place in tents, sometimes in cabins, and sometimes in our lodges, but the concept is still the same. Our guests get out of their homes, and away from their jobs or school, to spend extra time with Jesus.
Frederick Gunn is generally considered to have started
camping as we know it today in 1861 when he took a group of boys from his school on a camping trip. But it seems to me that God came up with
the idea and shared it with the Hebrews a few thousand years earlier with the Feast of Tabernacles. Camping
isn’t just a good idea, it’s a God idea!
It is our privilege here at South Mountain Christian Camp to put this same concept to work in the lives of people today. And what a blessing is it to see how God continues to use camping to impact souls for His kingdom!
Steve Collins
Associate Director
